Global Film Emperor

Chapter 213 I love you, it's Jiang Wenshu who loves you.
On the third night, Liu Yunzheng's wife delivered solid evidence against Jiang Wenshu, accusing Jiang Wenshu on Weibo of destroying her family and announcing that she had divorced Liu Yunzheng. Out of a last bit of affection between them, she helped Liu Yunzheng pay the tax evasion.

This bombshell revelation completely shattered the defenses of Jiang Wenshu's fans, allowing them to see for themselves what kind of person their goddess truly was.

The fans turned against him, which didn't surprise Lu Ze at all. They no longer believed that Jiang Wenshu hadn't done that kind of thing. Instead, they joined the haters in verbally abusing Jiang Wenshu, fully proving the saying that those who love you can also hurt you the most.

These kids, whose average age is under eighteen, used words that even Lu Ze found offensive to personally attack Jiang Wenshu, revealing the terrifying nature of cyberbullying.

That night, Lu Ze spoke with Jiang Wenshu on the phone. He felt sorry that he hadn't said a word for Jiang Wenshu in public, even though he knew it wouldn't make a difference.

Instead, Jiang Wenshu comforted him, telling him not to take it to heart, because even if Lu Ze spoke up for her, it wouldn't make any difference; it would only lead to Lu Ze being scolded mercilessly as well.

Her Weibo followers began to plummet, dropping sharply, with dozens to hundreds unfollowing her every minute. It took her four years to reach her current position, only to be dethroned in a mere four days. It's truly laughable.
But the tragedy was far from over. On the fourth day, the luxury brand she endorsed demanded that Jiang Wenshu terminate the endorsement contract and that she pay a huge compensation of 130 million yuan. She paid the compensation.

This situation was irreversible, and Tianhe Media began to discuss Jiang Wenshu's transformation, planning to have her take the route of a "goddess of otaku," the kind of sexy female celebrity that lewd men love, which would at least retain some fans and ensure the company's profits.

No matter how much Tianhe Media tried to persuade her, Jiang Wenshu refused without hesitation. In her words, she had had enough of being a prostitute and her heart was never at peace. She didn't want to live with the name of a prostitute for the rest of her life. She would rather work as a cleaner and find some peace of mind.

Subsequently, the company terminated her contract and demanded a penalty of 200 million yuan in compensation. This shows the cold-bloodedness of the agency. Since Jiang Wenshu had no value, it was better to terminate the contract sooner and make another profit from the penalty. As a result, Jiang Wenshu also lost money.

From a popular actress who earned nearly 100 million yuan a year to having nothing, she only needed three days to lose all her four years of hard work and sweat, leaving her with nothing.

That night, she sent Lu Ze a text message saying that she was leaving Shanghai and would never come back. Lu Ze asked her where she was going, and she replied that she hadn't decided yet.

Lu Ze couldn't resist. He closed the book, put on his coat and shoes, and tapped the elevator buttons several times. The elevator slowly rose to the first floor, and he practically ran out of the complex.

He wasn't so badly affected as to be restricted in his freedom, and no one in the company was willing to restrict Lu Ze's freedom. All the company did was call him two or three times a day to tell Lu Ze not to make any public statements supporting Jiang Wenshu.

He hailed a taxi, gave the address, looked out the window, and his left leg kept shaking. Forty minutes later, he arrived at Jiang Wenshu's apartment building, paid the fare, thought for a moment, and went into a nearby convenience store to buy a dozen of her favorite 1664 cigarettes.

"Ding dong."

Jiang Wenshu opened the door with a look of surprise, but after glancing out the window, she became worried, pursed her lips, and then put on a smile again.

"You came."

"Hmm, how about a drink?"

"Okay, is it raining outside? Wait a minute, I'll get you a towel."

She took the beer from Lu Ze and put it on the table. Then she quickly ran to the bathroom to get a towel and handed it to Lu Ze. When Lu Ze got out of the car, it was drizzling. Lu Ze was wearing a North Face coat, but there were some water stains on it. He wiped it off and took it off to hang on the coat rack by the door.

Looking around the house, this upscale apartment, even more luxurious than the one Lu Ze rented, now had dust covers on the sofa and table, and the room was empty except for two large suitcases placed by the door.

"Everything's packed up, so it looks a bit empty. I remember there's a bag of pistachios in the fridge, but there aren't any vegetables, so I guess I'll just have to make do with this?"

"I'm fine with anything."

Jiang Wenshu lifted the dust cover off the sofa, took out the bag of pistachios that had already been opened from the refrigerator, opened a beer, plopped down on the sofa, crossed her legs, and took a big gulp.

So where are you planning to go?

Lu Ze walked over and sat down, picked up a bottle of beer, bit the cap open with his teeth, leaned back on the sofa, placed his left hand on the backrest, took a sip of beer, and quietly watched her.

“I don’t know. After this incident, I’m too ashamed to go home. My parents don’t even dare to look people in the eye. I still have over 100,000 yuan in my hands, and I’m planning to start a small business somewhere. Once things are settled, I’ll bring my parents over. That’s my plan for now.”

She seemed carefree, having already come to terms with many things. With her left elbow resting on the back of the sofa, leaning to one side, her hand propping up her head, she took a sip of beer with a serene smile.

Lu Ze stared at her, but she was not afraid of his gaze. She still smiled, just like when Lu Ze first met her. Her wine-red wavy hair was sexy and playful. She gently winked her left eye at Lu Ze.

"I'm also struggling financially, I don't have much money, my password is six zeros, please don't mind."

She tossed the card from her pocket onto the table; it was all the cash Lu Ze had. He had prepared it since the day he returned to Shanghai. But she didn't take it. Still smiling, she rested her head on her hand and shook her head at Lu Ze.

"Take it. After all, you're used to having the best food, clothes, and other necessities. You don't want to feel uncomfortable later."

"Really, you don't need it. I'll let you know when I need it, okay? Just don't refuse then. Right now, I really don't need it. I'll just blow it up. Do whatever you want."

She tilted her head back, swallowed a bottle of beer, and let out a burp. The room was quiet, but the sound of light rain outside was still quite clear. She turned her head to look out the window, took a deep breath, and her exhale was a little shaky. She even coughed accidentally.

"Brother Ze."

"how?"

"Do you think I can still live like a normal person? Will I be scolded on the street? Will no one come to my small shop? I originally wanted to open a clothing store, just a very small storefront, but I'm afraid no one will patronize my business."

Lu Ze peeled a pistachio and threw it into his mouth. It was damp and had a pungent taste. He frowned, picked up a beer, and gulped down the rest to wash away the musty taste in his mouth.

"Go abroad, choose a better country, a safer one."

"Haha, no way. If I were a good student, I wouldn't be an entertainer. There's even communication problems over there. What would I do there? I'd be treated like dirt there. It's not as comfortable as staying in China."

She also ate a pistachio, which was probably damp too. Her expression changed, and she spat it into the trash can. Then she chuckled at Lu Ze. This unpretentious demeanor was her most authentic self. Lu Ze patted his pocket and remembered that his cigarettes were in his coat. Just as he was about to get up to get them, she took out a pack of cigarettes from the drawer. It was Lu Ze's favorite brand.

She took out a cigarette and handed it to Lu Ze, then lit it for him with a lighter. This was her favorite thing to do. She always thought that Lu Ze looked so manly when he tilted his head to light a cigarette, the moment the spark ignited. She had watched the scene of Lu Ze lighting a cigarette in the movie "The Boss" over and over again, and she still had that movie cached on her phone.

Soon, a dozen beers were gone, and it wasn't enough. Luckily, she had some left at home, so the two continued drinking. She wasn't a big drinker, and by the fourth bottle, her tongue was swollen.

"Honestly, I feel like the world is so vast, but I don't know where my home is. You know, that's the downside of being famous. You do something wrong—no, the wrong thing I did was pretty serious—and then, people always find something to hold against you. You want to run away? Nowhere. You can't even find a place where nobody knows you. Nowhere to settle down~ nowhere to settle down at all."

"This is temporary; it will get better with time."

"Maybe so. Anyway, I feel really sorry for my parents right now. I became a star, a big name, and my parents were so happy. They never asked me for money or took care of our relatives and friends. They just gave me some gifts during holidays. But now, my mom said my dad has high blood pressure and has been hospitalized. I don't even dare to go see him, for fear of upsetting him and causing him to have some more problems."

She didn't shed tears, she was very calm, her gaze was somewhat unfocused, a symptom of being drunk. Lu Ze listened quietly, just like five years ago. He realized that he only thought he had made it big, but in reality? Nothing had changed. He could only be a listener, quietly listening, while continuously consuming alcohol.

“Brother Ze, you had a much harder time than me, but it wasn’t easy for a girl like me who was pursuing her dreams, was it? In Beijing, I only had 22 yuan in my pocket. I ate steamed buns and pickled vegetables for a week. I was so hungry that my eyes were practically glowing green. I thought I had to eat some meat to satisfy my cravings, but I also needed to save 6 yuan for the subway, otherwise it would be dawn by the time I walked home. But the cheapest shredded pork with garlic sauce rice bowl was 18 yuan. I had no choice but to go to the supermarket and buy a chicken foot, and then go to the very back of the alley and order a 10-yuan bowl of noodles with soybean paste to go with the chicken foot. It’s hard to imagine how hungry I was back then. I almost ate the chicken bones.”

Lu Ze listened silently, his hand unconsciously picking up the cigarette case again. She quickly lit a cigarette for him before leaning back in her chair with a satisfied sigh.

"Back then, I signed a contract with Sister Guo and became an artist, but since I wasn't getting any acting roles, I had to work as a hostess. In the dead of winter in Beijing, with my bare legs, I was freezing so badly my bones ached. Drunk customers would touch my butt, and I didn't dare say a word. I had to endure it, but I was cursing them in my heart. I wished their daughters were also being touched on the butt while working part-time. Now I think about it, everyone is the same, men and women are all human. But back then, I was so poor that I was constantly having wild thoughts. I'm such a pretty girl, with a decent bust, a slim waist, a perky butt, and such long legs... what's going on in my crotch?" "No way, why should I suffer like this? Honestly, back then, if a rich guy pursued me, I wouldn't ask for much—just someone in Beijing, with an apartment, who could get me a Beijing residency permit, and I'd be with him. But then I realized that even if you're beautiful, if you don't go into prostitution or work as a prostitute, you still won't meet people of that high caliber. The people you know are still those petty thugs who just coast along, or those nine-to-five office workers. Then, one opportunity came along. He gave me a chance to play the second female lead, and I was thrilled, so I agreed."

She rubbed the soles of her feet like a burly man picking his toes, laughing foolishly as she did so, swaying her body back and forth. She looked quite cute. She picked up her beer and took another swig, swallowing the last sip.

"Honestly, Brother Ze, if I hadn't become famous, it wouldn't have been a big deal if people knew about this. In an era where being poor was considered justifiable and people laughed at poverty but not prostitution, they would only talk behind your back. But once you become successful, if this matter is brought up again, no matter how rich or famous you are, you will have to pay the price for the mistakes you made when you were poor."

"But... don't believe what's said online. I slept my way to the top, I really didn't, it was just once. I was wrong. Don't believe what they're saying, I really didn't. Just once, I really know I was wrong, Brother Ze! Don't believe what they're saying, okay?"

In the end, she still broke down. Perhaps in her heart, she was afraid that such rumors would deepen Lu Ze's already negative impression of her, and she didn't want Lu Ze to think of her as a promiscuous woman.

She could talk about her impoverished past with ease and face her mistakes, but what she feared most was Lu Ze's discrimination against her. She was terrified of seeing the look of disgust in Lu Ze's eyes.

Lu Ze watched as she lost control of her emotions, hiding in the corner of the sofa and sobbing uncontrollably. He finished the last of the wine in the bottle, took out a tissue from the table, sat down next to her, helped her up, and wiped away her tears. She hid in Lu Ze's arms, but in the end, her tears still soaked the chest of Lu Ze's shirt.

It was quite some time before she stopped crying. She grabbed a tissue, blew her nose, and gave an embarrassed smile, but Lu Ze noticed the satisfaction in her eyes.

"It's past eleven o'clock, it's too late, Brother Ze, you should go back."

She checked the time, gathered the bottles together, and went to the door to get Lu Ze his coat.

"No need, I'll sleep on the sofa tonight. I'll see you off when you leave tomorrow."

"No need. Don't you know I'm being followed by paparazzi every day? Hold the bottle and make sure it's visible. With your acting skills, you can definitely fake being drunk, right? It'll save you from rumors that we did something, which would be bad for you."

"It's alright, I'll stay here for the night."

"Really, no need. It's no fun sleeping in the guest room, hahaha. Let's go, let's go. Take the wine bottle and make sure you look like you're really drunk."

Jiang Wenshu boldly took Lu Ze's hands in hers. Seeing that he was still wearing the twenty-sixth birthday gift she had given him, she smiled even more happily. She pushed Lu Ze to the door and finally mustered up the courage to stand on tiptoe and kiss him.

"Lu Ze, I love you! It's not Tang Yufei who loves you, it's Jiang Wenshu who loves you! I've loved you for over four years!"

The door was closed, and Lu Ze stood outside for a while. He had told Jiang Wenshu that she had fallen for him because she was too immersed in filming, but today, Jiang Wenshu gave him an answer.

Jiang Wenshu leaned against the door, laughing gleefully. She had finally said those words. She was happy, but as she laughed, she started to cry again. She slid down to sit by the door, burying her head in her knees. She dared not cry out loud because she knew Lu Ze hadn't left.

After a long while, Lu Ze finally came to his senses. He twisted his neck stiffly and couldn't control his expression. Numbly, he picked up the empty wine bottle, pressed the elevator button, and went downstairs. He didn't pretend to be drunk. He casually threw the bottle into the trash can, put on his hat, and slowly left the neighborhood as the rain outside grew heavier.

She watched Lu Ze leave from upstairs. Fortunately, the streetlights in the park were bright, so she could see him. Only after Lu Ze's figure disappeared did she glance around the room, exhale, take off her clothes, revealing her curvaceous body, go into the bathroom to take a shower, look at her swollen eyelids, sigh, and rinse them with cold water. If they get any more swollen, she won't be pretty.

Lu Ze hailed a taxi outside and got into the back seat before turning on his phone. Wang Zixuan and Shen Jinghan had already called him more than twenty times.

Without returning their calls, Lu Ze leaned against the car window, looking out at the raindrops getting heavier, but his mind kept replaying the scenes from Jiang Wenshu's house.

The phone rang. Lu Ze glanced at it and saw that it was Shen Jinghan calling. Lu Ze didn't want to answer, and although he was being a bit stubborn, he still hung up.

The second call came in, and this time it wouldn't be good to ignore it.

"Hello, Aunt Han."

"Where are you, Aze?!"

"I'm walking home, what's wrong?"

"Jiang Wenshu jumped off a building!"

The phone fell under the car.
"Drive back, driver!!!"

"."

(End of this chapter)